Display carton



w. E. HANSON DISPLAY CARTON Jan. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1965 INVENTOR .LLlzz/Aucef. Harman ATTORNEYS W. E. HAN SON DISPLAY CARTON Jan. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1963 I I I I I I \q I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I INVENTOR Lz/m/um 5. Ha 775077 NI m A :2 J I w BY 'fv dlwi-flzal ATTORNEYS 3,165,2(90 Patented Jan. 12, 1965 3,165,201 DISPLAY CARTON Wallace E. Hanson, Springfield, Mass, assignor to Sample- Duricir Company, Incorporated, Chicopee, Mass, :1

corporationof New Yorir Filed Mar. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 266,567

. 3 Claims. (ill. zen-4514 The present invention relates to improvements in carton' constructions and particularly cartons which are employed in point-of-purchase display of merchandise.

United States Patent ice The object of the invention is to provide a more ecov nomical and more effective point-of-purchase display carton.

A more limited object of the invention is to provide such a carton which is particularly adapted for the display of a unique container which has been found highly desirable for toothbrushes.

' The toothbrush container referred to has an elongated hour glass. configuration wherein opposite side Walls tapered inwardly from its lower end give it a very attractive appearance. This container presents serious problems in obtaining a neat and effective display whichpermits ready removal and replacement of the containers. In accordance with the present invention the display carton comprises means for positioning these containers in an upright position with substantially the entire ible tongues on opposite sides of each opening which may be deflected as the larger lower end of the container passes therethrough and then returned to an essentially unflexed condition contiguous with the tapered walls of the container. The containers are thus positively supported at two spaced points and thereby maintained in an attractive upright position, preferably in aligned rows.

The carton is preferably formed by the combination of an open tubed box having all of its top wall cut away, except for relatively narrow marginal portions at its opposite ends, and also preferably has a portion of its front wall cut away. When erected, this tube assumes a rectangular shape and receives a transparent member of inverted U shape which underlies the opening in the top wall of the tube and thus forms the top wall of the carton, described above. The depending legs of the transparent member are positioned to maintain the upper portion thereof in the described position. Preferably the recesses referred to above and the bottom wall of the carton are provided by one or more inserts which lie on the bottom wall of the tube and have openings therein aligned with the openings of the plastic member.

The above and other related objects and features of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description of the disclosure found in the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with portions broken away, of a carton embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 11-11 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line IIIIII in FIG. 1;

and e e FIG. '4 is a view of one element of the carton shown as it would be before assembly.

{Referring now to FIG. 1, the present carton is compositelyformed from an erected sleeve or tube 10 and an inverted U shaped member 12 inserted therein. The tube 10 (FIG. 4) comprisesa'panel 14 for forming the bottom wall of the carton, panel 16 for forming the front wall of the carton, panel 1% for forming the top Wall of the carton and panels 26) and 22 which are glued ton.

together and compositely form the rear wall of the car- A tongue 19 isstruck from the top and front wall panels 16 and 18 to form an opening 21, later referred Panels 24 project from the top wall 18. Score lines 26 facilitate folding of the panels 24 downwardly and tabs 28' at their outer ends are defined by score lines 30 to facilitate folding of these tabs within the erected tube (see FIG. 3).

Flaps 32 project from the front panel 16 and are defined by score lines 34. Looking tabs 36 project from opposite ends of the bottom wall 14 and are partially struck therefrom being defined by a score line 40 and having an intermediate score line 42. A short tongue 44 is also struck from the tabs 28 to provide a slot therein which receives the tongues 36 when the carton is erected.

The sleeve 10 is first erected, that is, transposed from its flat condition to a rectangular tube, with the tongue I? folded about score line 45 to lie against the bottom panel 14 and the'rear panels 20, 22. The U shaped member 12 is then inserted thus formed. The member 12 comprises an upper wall 46 which underlies the portion of the opening 21 which is formed in the top wall 18 and thus, in effect, forms in part the top wall of the composite carton. The depending legs 48 (FIG. 2) of the member 12 rests on the bottom of the tube and the front leg 48 is positioned immediately behind the portion of the opening 21 which is formed in the front wall 16. Recesses are provided in the bottom wall of the com positely formed carton by a pair of inserts 5i resting on the bottom wall 14. Each of the inserts 50 has a series of aligned openings 5-1 therein. An upturned flap 52 at one end of each insert and a short tongue 53 projects from the opposite end of the insert. A slot is formed in each flap 52 by a short tongue struck therefrom. The inserts 5d are identically formed so that either may be disposed on top of the other and the tongue 53 received by an opening which maintains the inserts in superposed relation as they are positioned on the bottom of the carton tube by the flaps 52.

To complete the forming of the carton, the panels 24 are turned downwardly after the flaps 32 have been folded inwardly. The tabs 28 are inserted against the bottom wall 14 and then the tongue 36 is folded about the score line 32 and inserted into the opening created by the tongue 44.

Referring now again to the top wall 46 of the member 12, it will be seen that a series of aligned openings 54 areformed therein, with each opening having at its opposite ends tongues 56 which are preferably spaced from the front and rear sides of the openings 54. The

openings 54 are aligned with the recesses defined by the openings in the inserts 50 in a series of rows extending laterally and from front to rear of the carton. The member lzis also provided with downturned flaps at its opposite ends for-added rigidity. 'It will also be noted that'the member 12 is preferably formed of a transparent plastic material, the selection of which would be routine to those skiled in the art, cellulose acetate butyrate being an exemplary material.

FIGS. 1 and 2 also indicate that a display card 58 may be inserted between the rear leg 48 and the rear wall of the carton to effectively present advertising matter.

.Referr-ing particularly to FIG. 3, it will be seen that V is fully inserted the tongues are unflexed and in contiguous relation with the containers. to thereby maintain the containers, as can be seen, can be readily removed and inserted.

The present carton also has other advantages in that).

it economically provides a display which enables a visual examination of substantially all of the merchandise;

Thus, with substantially all of the top panel 18 and front panel 16 cut away by striking tongue 19 therefrom, even a container in the front row of openings 54 will be entirely visible, or at least substantially so, through the front leg 48 or top wall 46 of the transparent memer 12. It is in this fashion that full product visibility, previously referred to, is obtained in the display canton.

Another advantage to be recognized is that the com-' bination of a collapsible sleeve and a U shaped transparent insert to give the composite carton form and stabil-; ity and likewise attain this display feature, is economically.

obtained in that the sleeves may be shiped to themanufacturer in their colla sed condition re uirim a mini-' mum of space and likewise the U shaped members can be nested, again requiring the minimumof storage space in shipping.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as novel and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A compositely formed carton comprising a collapsible tubular sleeve erected from a flattened condition and having bottom, top, front and rear panels defining the tube, a tongue struck from the front and top panels and forming an opening in both, said tongue lying against the rear and bottom panels of the tube, the remainder of the top panel comprising narrow mariginal portions at opposite ends threof and the remainder of thefront panel comprising a narrow marginal portion extending upwardly from thebot-tom panel and also narrow mar ginal portions at opposite ends thereof, a transparent plastic member of inverted U-shape inserted within said tube and having its upper portion underlying the top panel and the opening therein and forming in part the upper wall of the carton, the legs of said insert being contiguous with the front and rear panels with the front leg forming in part the front wall of the carton and providing visual access to substantially the entirebottom wall of the carton when it is resting on a retail counter and viewed from a normalangle, said U-shaped member 7 also having downturned stiffening flangles at its opposite ends, a pair of superposed inserts lying on thebottom of said tube and having openings therein which define shal low recesses on the bottom wall of said carton, said inserts having upturned flaps at their oposite ends to position the inserts on the bottom of thecarton and the lower insert having an opening receiving a tab projecting from the upper insert to maintain said inserts in superposed relation, and panel means folded from said tube and forming "ible, tubular sleeve erected from a flattened condition and having bottom, top, front and rear panels defining the tube, said top panel having an opening therein defined by narrow marginal panel'portions at opposite ends thereof, said front panel having an opening therein which is a continuation of the opening in the top panelwand defined by a narrow marginal panel portion extending upwardly from the bottom panel and also by narrow marginal panel portions at opposite ends thereof, a transparent plastic member of invertedU-shape inserted within said tube and having its uper portion underlying the top panel and the opening therein andxforming inpart-theupperwall of the carton, the legs of 'said insert being contiguous with the front and rear panels with the front leg forming in part the front wall of the cartoniand providing visual access tosubstant-iaily the'entire bottom'wall of the carton when it is resting on a retail counter and viewed fronia normal angle, and insert means'lying on the bottom of said tube and having openings therein which efine shall-ow recesses on the bottom wall of saidcarton and panels, means folded from said tube and forming the end walls of said carton, the upper portion of said U-shaped member having openings therein aligned with the recesses in the bottom wall of the carton and further having flexible resilient tongues projecting into said openings from opposite ends thereof and containers positioned in said ear-tonfor display, each container being received by one of said recesses and projecting through the opening thereabove; each container having-alower end of greater width than the spacing between'the tongues projecting intothe opening, and inwardly tapered walls which are in contiguous relation with the ends of said tongues, said tonguesbeingflexed assthe larger, lower end, of the container is introduced into and removed from the carton;

the endwalls of said cartomthe upper portion of said U-shaped member having openings therein aligned with the recesses in the bottomwall of the carton and further having fiexible, resilient tongues projecting into said openings from opposite ends thereof, andspaced frcmthe front and rear sides of said openings, and containers positioned in said car-ton for display, each container'being received: by one of said recesses and projecting through an opening thereabove, each container having a lower end'o'f greater width than the spacing between the tongues projecting into, the opening and inwardly tapered walls which are in contiguous relation with the ends of said tongues, said tongues beingfiexed as the larger, lower end of the container is introduced into and removed from 3. A compositely formed; carton comprising top, bottom, front, rear and end, walls,1 'said topv wall'and said front wall have connected openings therein anda transparent plastic member underlying said openings'and compositely forming the top and front walls, means forming aplurality of shallow recesses on the bottom wall of said carton, said plasticmember having openings therein aligned with the recesses in'the bottom wall and further having flexible, resilient tongues projecting into said openiugs. from opposite "ends thereof, and containers positioned in said carton for-display, each, container being received by one of, said recesses and projecting through the-opening ther-eabove, each container having an end of greater width than the spacing between the tongues projecting intothe openingsand inwardly tapered walls which are intcontiguous relation with the ends of said tongues, said tongues being flexed as the larger, lower end of the container is introduced into and removed from the carton. 1 i

7 References Cited in the ,of'this patent UNITED PATENTS 1,812,31 l

Wolf June 30, 1931 1,961,294 Hassell 1 June 5, 1934 2,147,135 Addis Feb. ,14, 1939 2,158,756 Knorp' May 16, 1939 2,419,745 Trecek Apr. 22!, 1947 2,648,427 Langford Aug. 11,1953 2,654,469 -Fulmer Oct. 6, 1953 r 2,747,732 Fisher Q V LV.. May 29, 1956 2,872,030 Dumont ;..I -?Y .V 'I Feb; 3,1959 2,921,673 Ryan Jan} 19, 1960 

1. A COMPOSITELY FORMED CARTON COMPRISING A COLLAPSIBLE TUBULAR SLEEVE ERECTED FROM A FLATTENED CONDITION AND HAVING BOTTOM, TOP, FRONT AND REAR PANELS DEFINING THE TUBE, A TONGUE STRUCK FROM THE FRONT AND TOP PANELS AND FORMING AN OPENING IN BOTH, SAID TONGUE LYING AGAINST THE REAR AND BOTTOM PANELS OF THE TUBE, THE REMAINDER OF THE TOP PANEL COMPRIUSING NARROW MARGINAL PORTIONS AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF AND THE REMAINDER OF THE FRONT PANEL COMPRISING A NARROW MARGINAL PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM PANEL AND ALSO NARROW MARGINAL PORTIONS AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, A TRANSPARENT PLASTIC MEMBER OF INVERTED U-SHAPE INSERTED WITHIN SAID TUBE AND HAVING ITS UPPER PORTION UNDERLYING THE TOP PANEL AND THE OPENING THEREIN AND FORMING IN PART THE UPPER WALL OF THE CARTON, THE LEGS OF SAID INSERT BEING CONTIGUOUS WITH THE FRONT AND REAR PANELS WITH THE FRONT LEG FORMING IN PART THE FRONT WALL OF THE CARTON AND PROVIDING VISUAL ACCESS TO SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE BOTTOM WALL OF THE CARTON WHEN IT IS RESTING ON A RETAIL COUNTER AND VIEWED FROM A NORMAL ANGLE, SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER ALSO HAVING DOWNTURNED STIFFENING FLANGLES AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS, A PAIR OF SUPERPOSED INSERTS LYING ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID TUBE AND HAVING OPENING THEREIN WHICH DEFINES SHALLOW RECESSES ON THE BOTTOM WALL OF SAID CARTON, SAID INSERTS HAVING UPTURNED FLAPS AT THEIR OPOSITE ENDS TO POSITION THE INSERTS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CARTON AND THE LOWER INSERT HAVING AN OPENING RECEIVING A TAB PROJECTING FROM THE UPPER INSERT TO MAINTAIN SAID INSERTS IN SUPERPOSED RELATION, AND PANEL MEANS FOLDED FROM SAID TUBE AND FORMING THE END WALLS OF SAID CARTON, THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN ALIGNED WITH THE RECESSES IN THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE CARTON AND FURTHER HAVING FLEXIBLE, RESILIENT TONGUES PROJECTING INTO SAID OPENINGS FROM OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, AND SPACED FROM THE FRONT AND REAR SIDES OF SAID OPENING, AND CONTAINERS POSITIONED IN SAID CARTON FOR DISPLAY, EACH CONTAINER BEING RECEIVED BY ONE OF SAID RECESSES AND PROJECTING THROUGH AN OPENING THEREABOVE, EACH CONTAINER HAVING A LOWER END OF GREATER WIDTH THAN THE SPACING BETWEEN THE TONGUES PROJECTING INTO THE OPENING AND INWARDLY TAPERED WALLS WHICH ARE IN CONTIGUOUS RELATION WITH THE ENDS OF SAID TONGUES, SAID TONGUES BEING FLEXED AS THE LARGER, LOWER END OF THE CONTAINER IS INTRODUCED INTO AND REMOVED FROM THE CARTON. 